The NSW government enquiry into child sexual abuse by priests in the Newcastle-Maitland diocese had a non-hearing day today. The rest of the week is largely taken up by clergy, Hart, Searle, Lucas and Harrigan. Friday should see priest, Burston … Continue reading →

NSW enquiry head, Ms. Cunneen, so far has only considered legal action against Detective Chief Inspector Fox (who triggered the enquiry) for tweeting, and victims who have protested outside the court. Action against Mr. Fox was eventually dropped, while the … Continue reading →

Caption: Burston (center) leaving the enquiry (source: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3805435.htm) “He has given his life to the Catholic Church”: Commissioner Cunneen., concerning William Burston (pictured above), second-in-charge of the Newcastle-Maitland diocese under former Bishops Clarke and Malone. Ms. Cunneen claimed that Burston had … Continue reading →

Image: Many thanks to Andy from ShatterOurSilence (http://shatteroursilence.blogspot.com.au/) Poor Bishop Michael Malone has really had a hard time of it because of the paedophile priests under his command in the Newcastle-Maitland diocese. When he took early retirement a couple of … Continue reading →

This blog has previously argued that victims, and not just lawyers, should be able to interrogate church officials directly. Today, the NSW enquiry made Australian history when it allowed victim, Peter Gogarty, to directly question former Newcastle-Maitland Bishop, Michael Malone … Continue reading →

Yesterday, former Newcastle-Maitland Catholic Bishop, Michael Malone, revealed that he had been given a briefcase containing secret files on abusive clergy in his diocese, when he took over from his predecessor. Today, he admitted that, in sixteen years in the … Continue reading →